Regulating mechanism for ventilators



June 11, 1963 A. F. TUHRO 3,

REGULATING MECHANISM FOR VENTILATORS Filed Aug. 24, 1961 United States Patent 3,093,011 REGULATING MECHANISM FOR VENTILATORS Albert F. Tuhro, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Muschong Metal & Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 133,689 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-625) The invention relates to improvements in ventilators for buildings and more specifically to an operating mechanism for regulating these ventilators.

Buildings for industrial purposes, or storage, often require ventilation systems to avoid the accumulation of fumes, gases or dust. Ventilators of one kind or another are often a part of such a system, and these ventilators are in turn equipped with regulators which act as valves to control the flow of air into or out of the building. The simplest form of regulator is a movable light which may be hinged or slidably mounted to move to or from a closed position. Large buildings may be provided with long rows of lights, or regulators, located far above the work or storage level in the buildings, which in turn requires some form of remote controlled operator. The lights, or regulators, are often interconnected for gang operation, and the operator is either electric or manually powered. This invention provides for both kinds of operation in the case of electric power failure or other emergency.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism by which a series of regulators interconnected for gang operation in a ventilation system may be operated either by power or manually in case of emergencies.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a mechanism by which regulators in a ventilation system may be operated either by power or manually in case of emergencies without any danger of injuries during manual operation, when due to carelessness or accident, energization of the power operator occurs.

' It is still another object of this invention to provide an operator of the kind described in which the manual operable connection is not actuated during power operation, and power operation is impossible during manual operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an operator of the kind described in which there is no danger of personal injury from power driven manually operable parts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description which is in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any one skilled in the art to make and use the same when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a row of regulators, or lights, in a building interconnected for gang operation from a single operator; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an electric motor powered operator for driving the lay shaft in an arrangement for gang operation of a series of regulators or lights and the connection between the lay shaft and one of the regulators.

In the following detailed description, similar parts will be given like reference characters.

In the illustration in FIG. 1 is shown schematically the Wall of a building, indicated as W, and a plurality of hinged ventilators, or lights, indicated by the reference characters 1 through 8, inclusive, located in the upper portion of the wall W adjacent the roof line R. A series of columns in the building, indicated as 10, 11 and 12, support the roof in the usual manner. The several lights 1-8, inclusive, may be part of a skylight structure for the building, but, in any case, their location is just under the roof line a distance of twenty or more feet, for example,

from the floor of the building, as indicated by the floor line F. In this case, each of the lights, or regulators, of the ventilation system 1 through 8, inclusive, are individually hinged for swinging movement, as will be later described in detail, and each is operated from a common lay shaft 20 which drives suitable links individually connected with each of the regulators 1-8. The lay shaft 20 in turn is driven by a single operating mechanism 30 shown in more detail in FIG. 2.

With respect to FIG. 2, the operating mechanism 30 has an electric motor as a power source, indicated as 31. driving a sprocket 32 in turn connected by a chain 33 with a larger sprocket 34 keyed to an input shaft, or connection, 36 of a gear reduction unit 37. The gear reduction unit 37 has an output shaft 40 projecting from opposite sides of the casing for the gear reduction unit 37. Shaft 40 in turn is coupled at each side of the housing by suitable coupling means to drive the lay shaft 20.

Spaced along the lay shaft 20 are a plurality of U-shaped brackets 42 which have aligned apertures 43 in the free ends thereof in which the lay shaft 20 can rotate. Each bracket 42 straddles a pinion gear 48 which in turn meshes with a rack 50 on a bracket 51. The bracket 42 slidably receives the rack 50 and holds the rack teeth in engagement with the pinion 48 which is driven from the lay shaft 20. Preferably, the pinion 48 is slidable along the lay shaft 20 to proper adjusted position and is secured in that position by a set screw 53 threaded in the hub of the pinion 42. The bracket 42 and the pinion 48 are thus held in the proper spaced positions along the lay shaft 20. These positions are determined by the location of the racks 50 on the operating links 51 which in turn are connected with small brackets 56 attached to the sash 57 of a light, or regulator, 60. In this particular case, the regulators 6% for the ventilation system are hinged upon trunnions 61 for horizontal swing within frames 64 carried by the building structure on the columns 10, 11 and 12. The lower side of the sash 57 has a lip 65 which bears against an angle iron 66 extending along the frame 64. Similarly, the upper edge of the sash has a lip 71 hearing against an angle iron 72 on frame member 75 also carried by the columns 10, 11 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sockets for the trunnions 61 for each of the pivoted regulators, or lights, are in turn supported by vertical braces 77 through 86, inclusive, at tached at their opposite ends to the frame members 64 and 75. Each of these braces 77 through 86, inclusive, carries a bearing member, such as 88 through 97, inclusive, which forms a rotatable support for the lay shaft 20. Column 11 also carries a bracketltlll connected to support the operating mechanism 30. From the description so far, it will be readily recognized that the operating mechanism 30 mounted on the colunm 11 has a series of output connections by way of the lay shaft 20, pinions 48 and driven links 51 with each of the lights, or regulators, 1 through 8, inclusive, so that when the lay shaft 20 is driven rotating the pinions 48 drives the link 51 to move the regulators, or lights, 60 upon their trunnions 61. The lay shaft 20, pinions 48 and links 51 form an output connection from the operating mechanism 30 to the regulators. Direction of rotation of the lay shaft and pinions 48 will determine the direction of swinging movement of the regulators 60. These are all parts of the ventilating system for the building which in its simplest form operates on the principle of convection. Maximum travel of the regulators 60 toward open or toward closed position may be controlled by a limit switch 101 located adjacent one of the links 51 and actuated by trips adjustably positioned along the rack 50. The limit switch forms a pant of a controllable power supply which will be hereinafter described.

Turning now to the operating mechanism 30, the input connection or shaft 36 carries a sheave 106 which is a driven part of a manually operable transmission means including the sheave 106 and an endless chain 108 trained around the sheave 106 and extending from the operating mechanism 30 downwardly so that the lower loop of the chain 108 is adjacent and accessiblefrom the floor level F, as shown in FIG. 1. On the face of the sprocket 34 are a pair of projecting lugs, or pins, 109 and 110 which are engageable with the spokes of the sheave 106 so that rotationof the sheave in engagement with the lugs 109 and 110 will drive the input connection, or shaft, 36 of the operating mechanism 30. Sheave 106 has a hub 112 with a groove therein receiving a forked lever 114. A spring 116 biased between bracket 117 and hub'112 tends to force the sheave 106 to the left so that lugs 109, 110 engage with the spokes thereof. A chain 120 trained over a pulley 121 on bracket 117 is attached to the upper end of the fork 114 and has its lower end extending downw-ardly. to a point adjacent and accessible from the floor level F. The lower end of the chain 120 is engageable and disengageable from a forked bracket 124 secured to the column 11.

Bracket 117 also carries a toggle operated three pole limit switch 125 which has a connection 126 to the forked lever 114. The lower end of this lever is pivotal-1y mounted 'in this socket 127 on the bracket 117. This bracket also carries a pair of tubular guides 130 (one of whichis shown). The opposite reaches of the chain 108 pass through these tubular guides '130 and thence over the sheave 106. In the position of the sheave 106, as shown in FIG. 2, the chain between the sheave 106 and the tubular guides 130 is kinked as at 108', and this kink formed in the chain not only prevents the chain from being driven when the. clutch including the lugs 109 and 110 are disengaged, but also prevents manual movement of the chain 108 when'the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 2. i e

From the description of the operating mechanism 30, it will be realized that in case of power failure to the motor 31, it is possible to operate the regulator 60 by means of a manual operable transmission including the chain 108 and sheave 106 and its clutch. In order to engage the clutch, the lower end of the chain 120 is disengaged from the forked bracket 12 4 and the tension or spring 116 then engages sheave 106 with the lugs 109 and 110. This engagement is due to movement of the sheave 106 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, into a position in which the runs, or reaches, of the chain 108 lead directly from the tubular guides 130 on the sheave 106. This movement of the sheave 106 not only engages the clutch but also releases the kinks 108' which form a brake for preventing manual rotation of the sheave 106 or movement of its chain 108 by power from the motor 31.

The motor 31 is a reversible electric motor and it receives its power through a plurality of lines enclosed within electric cable 135 which leads from the motor through the toggle operated three pole limit switch 125 and thence through a cable 136 connected with a magnetic motor starter enclosed within the housing 137. Power is supplied to the magnetic starter 137 through three A.C. lines within the cable 138. 'A cable 139 extends from the magnetic starter to a push button station 140' which may be located at any convenient location, such as on the column 11 as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, a cable 141 is interconnected between the magnetic starter and the limit switch 101. The power system works as follows: As long as the toggle operated three pole limit switch 125 is closed, operation of the push buttons at the station 140 supplies power to the motor 31 through the cables 136 and 135 to operate the motor in the selected direction. Operation of the motor will continue until either the stop button is pushed at the station 140, or limit switch 101 is actuated. Should manual operation of the operating mechanism be required, chain is released from the forked bracket 124 engaging the clutch connection between the sheave 106 and the sprocket 34. Pull on the chain 108 will then rotate the sheave 106 in one direction or the other to provide the emergency operation necessary in the event of power failure. After emergency operation, chain 120 is again tensioned to disengage the clutch and the lower end secured in the fork bracket 124 so to maintain the clutch in disengaged position. So long as the clutch is engaged, however, power operation is impossible because switch 125 is opened. Disengagem'ent of the clutch by the tensioning of chain 120 closes the switch 125 so as to connect the power directly with the motor whenever the push buttons at station are operated.

Changes in and modifications of the structure described may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power operator for moving the regulators in a building ventilation system which includes a motor, an operating mechanism having a power input connection with said motor and a power output connection for moving said regulators and a controllable power supply connection with said motor, the improvement comprising, a manually operable transmission means including a driven part mounted on the driven power input connection of said operating mechanism, means to move said driven part into and out of positive driving connection with said driven input connection, a manually actuated part in said manually operable transmissions means located remotely from said driven part and mechanically connected for operating the same, guide means receiving said driven part of said manually operable transmission and located adjacent said driven part to engage and hold said parts against rotation when said driven part is disconnected from driving relation with said power input connection.

2. In a power operator for moving the regulators in a building ventilation system which includes a motor, an operating mechanism having a power input connection with said motor and a power output connection for moving said regulator and a controllable power supply connection with said motor, the improvement comprising, a manually operable transmission means including a driven part mounted on the power input connection of said op erating mechanism and movable therealong into and out of positive driving connection with said power input con nection of said operating mechanism, a manually actuated part for said manually operable transmission located remotely from said driven part, guide means engaging said manually actuated part of said manually operable trans mission to hold the parts stationary when said driven part is moved to disengage the drive connection with the power input connection of said operating mechanism, manual means for moving said driven part into and out of positive engagement with said input connection and means responsive to the movement of said driven part into positive drive connection with said input connection to cut off the supply of power to said motor and maintain the power cut off while said part is in driving connection.

3. In a power operator for moving the regulators ina building ventilation system which includes a motor, an operating mechanism having a power input connection with said motor and a power output connection for mov ing said regulator and a controllable power supply connection with said motor, the improvement comprising, a manually operable transmission means including a driven part conneotable and disconnectable from driving engagement with said operating mechanism, a manually actuated part extending from said transmission to a readily accessible location remote from said driven part, guide means engaging said manually actuated part of said manually operable transmission adapted to hold said par-ts stationary when disconnected from driving engagement with said operating mechanism, means for connecting and disconnecting said transmission means with said operating mechanism, and means to cut ofi the power supply to said motor and maintain the power cut off in response to the operation of said means to connect said transmission means with said operating mechanism.

4. In a power operator having an electric motor driven speed reducer mechanism with a rotatable power input shaft connected to be driven by said motor and a power output connection for driving a device to be operated, a controllable power supply connected to operate said motor, switch means connected with said controllable power supply to said motor to open and close the power supply to said motor, a manually driven rotary part mounted on said mechanism, means to move said manually driven rotary part into and out of positive driving connection with said rotatable power input shaft and means for actuating said switch means to close said power supply to said motor when said manually driven rotary part is moved out of positive driving connection with said power input shaft and for actuating said switch means to open the power supply to said motor and maintain said power supply cut-off when said manually driven rotary part is moved into positive driving connection with said power input shaft, the improvement comprising, means actuated by movtment of said manually driven rotary part out of positive driving connection with said power input connection to hold said manually driven rotary part against rotary movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,182,769 Van Riper Dec. 5, 1939 2,338,385 Sorenson Jan. 4, 1944 2,670,065 Stevens Feb. 23, 1954 

1. IN A POWER OPERATOR FOR MOVING THE REGULATORS IN A BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES A MOTOR, AN OPERATING MECHANISM HAVING A POWER INPUT CONNECTION WITH SAID MOTOR AND A POWER OUTPUT CONNECTION FOR MOVING SAID REGULATORS AND A CONTROLLABLE POWER SUPPLY CONNECTION WITH SAID MOTOR, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, A MANUALLY OPERABLE TRANSMISSION MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVEN PART MOUNTED ON THE DRIVEN POWER INPUT CONNECTION OF SAID OPERATING MECHANISM, MEANS TO MOVE SAID DRIVEN PART INTO AND OUT OF POSITIVE DRIVING CONNECTION WITH SAID DRIVEN INPUT CONNECTION, A MANUALLY ACTUATED PART IN SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE TRANSMISSIONS MEANS LOCATED REMOTELY FROM SAID DRIVEN PART AND MECHANICALLY CONNECTED FOR OPERATING THE SAME, GUIDE MEANS RECEIVING SAID DRIVEN PART OF SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE TRANSMISSION AND LOCATED ADJACENT SAID DRIVEN PART TO ENGAGE AND HOLD SAID PARTS AGAINST ROTATION WHEN SAID DRIVEN PART IS DISCONNECTED FROM DRIVING RELATION WITH SAID POWER INPUT CONNECTION. 